Akbayan: Tarriela’s promotion ‘slap in the face’ of China
MANILA, Philippines — Akbayan Party on Sunday congratulated Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for West Philippine Sea Jay Tarriela on his promotion to rear admiral, calling it a “slap in the face” of China and the Chinese Embassy Manila, which have repeatedly attacked him for his outspokenness in defending the country’s sovereignty.
“This is a major victory for everyone who stands for the West Philippine Sea, and a huge slap in the face of China, its embassy here, and its pro-China allies who have done nothing but attack and insult Filipinos fighting for our sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Akbayan president Rafaela David said in a statement.
David is also a co-convenor of Atin Ito, the civil society coalition behind three successful and historic civilian-led supply missions to the West Philippine Sea starting in 2024.
READ: Tarriela: No order for me to tone down talk on WPS
She said Tarriela consistently presented the truth to both the Filipino people and the international community regarding developments in the West Philippine Sea, refusing to allow disinformation and external pressure to silence the truth.
“When confronted by public attacks from the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Philippines, he did not retreat—asserting our rights under international law and standing firmly by his duty to inform,” she added.
READ: PCG’s Tarriela, fierce China critic, promoted to rear admiral
“Tarriela shows us what patriotism should look like: by refusing to back down from his responsibility to inform the public about China’s actions despite harassment from the Chinese Embassy. It is in those moments that courage is required,” David said.
“This is more than a promotion; it is a declaration that the nation stands its ground against foreign threats by recognizing courageous and truthful service,” she added.
David noted that the elevation of Tarriela’s rank stressed that those who defend the country’s seas deserve recognition and protection from the government.
In a letter dated Feb. 23, Executive Secretary Ralph Recto informed Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez of the promotion of Tarriela as rear admiral.
The PCG is an agency under the Department of Transportation.
READ: Palace calls for healthy PH-China dialogue amid word war
Tarriela’s second star in his epaulet came amid the official drawing the ire of Beijing and its embassy officials for his comments on China’s incursion in Philippine waters, especially in the West Philippine Sea.
His Jan. 14 presentation at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde in Manila included AI-generated caricatured images of Chinese President Xi Jinping, fuming in anger, flexing his muscles, and even holding a wooden ship with a Philippine flag.
That triggered a formal protest from the Chinese Embassy. escalating into a word war and dragging members of the Senate and House of Representatives into the fray.
Malacañang promptly intervened, calling officials from both China and the Philippines to “work together to establish mutual respect for one another.” /cb
